Saturday, February 28, 2015

"The Thrill of Hope" helps believers focus on Revelation in a new light, one of hope and assurance, not doom and gloom.Overview: What are we to do with the Book of Revelation? Some Christians skim the
book and glean a superficial understanding of the text; others
spiritualize Revelation or label it as unworthy of concentrated study.
Many simply ignore John's final letter entirely.

But by
neglecting Revelation, the church is missing out on the blessing that
the Lord bestows upon those willing to give the book a patient
hearing—the thrill of hope.

In The Thrill of Hope, Bruce
Green walks with the Apostle John through the open door of heaven and
witnesses the wonderful blending of history and hope. God's people may
be oppressed, but evil won't prevail. Wrongs will be righted. Those who
have the faith and courage to stand strong will be vindicated. However,
victory doesn't happen by chance; it is the promised result of a strong
and steadfast hope given by God.

Accessible and easy to understand, The Thrill of Hope
provides an enlightening and encouraging analysis of the book of
Revelation. In short, digestible chapters, Green unveils the major
themes of John's message, challenging us to live in hope and holiness.
Helpful FAQ sections are interspersed throughout the book, and
discussion questions following each chapter make it suitable for Bible
class, small group, and individual studies. Those who are waist deep in
the woes of the world will be lifted from the mire by a renewed
confidence in the sovereign Christ—the One who reigns in hope.Dawn's Recommendation: 4 of 5 StarsWhat I Liked: It is a great book to start reading right before you start reading Revelation and a great book to read as you continue reading Revelation. It helps explain symbolism. It helps with any fear readers might have of reading or studying Revelation. The book talks about Revelations' major theme and gives some history to the times in which John received the revelation. I enjoyed the FAQ sections and the questions at the end of every chapter, which helps readers go deeper (my education background loves that!). What I Didn't Like: The book isn't as intense a study on Revelation as I wanted, but that was not the authors intent. His intent was to leave readers focusing on the hope that Revelation reveals. The book did that job nicely.

To get to the level of detail that I wanted in my personal study of Revelation, I read "The Thrill of Hope", read Bible and internet commentary, and developed my own list of questions/answers as I studied Revelation. With all of that together, I found my study very well-rounded.

Disclaimer: I received this complementary book from the publisher through BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, February 27, 2015

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate
a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame,
paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For
an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water;
then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well
of whatever disease he had.” John 5:2-4 (NKJV)

I started doing water aerobics again, just me and a
friend. In the dead of winter (5 degrees outside), it's nice to step into a
warm therapy pool. It makes me think of the Pool of Bethseda and how angels
stirred up the water and the first person in was healed. I imagine the daily
anticipation and hunger for healing that the ones around the pool felt.

I’ve been using this Scripture to pray for my church. The
image of the pool and stirring waters…

Dear Father, I pray for my church. That you would stir
the Holy Spirit like the pool at Bethesda. Stir the waters so that healing can
happen in the lives of your people. Move their hearts like the water, so that
they might not be stagnant. Soften their hearts. Let love flow in and through
them. Help them get in the water and then move out of it, in Your Name. Amen.

Is there a Scripture’s imagery that moves you? Or that helps you pray?

Thursday, February 26, 2015

“Point out anything in me that offends
you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:24 (NLT)

We just went through an inspection where I work. Those are
never fun. Inspections uncover problems and things that need fixed; basically,
your dirt. But, don't we need inspections? Imagine if restaurants or hospitals
never got inspected. We need inspections at places of work and in our personal lives.

Thank goodness, for us, that God is a loving inspector.
He points out our mistakes and sin to make
us better and stronger. He wants the best for us. He want holiness for us. You
have to see the dirt before you can get rid of it.

Ask God to inspect you. Ask Him to point out anything
that needs improvement. Don't push the dirt under the rug. Look at it and then
wash it in Jesus' blood, so you can be white as snow.

What is something that God pointed out to you in the past
that needed cleaned?

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever
you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for
me.' " Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Our youth group had a special Ash Wednesday night. They
went through prayer stations to reflect on the cross. Here are a few of the
stations:

Oil - Anointing

Water - Washing away of sins

Clay - being molded in Christ's image

Ashes - reflecting on mortality and repentance of sin

I got to place a cross of ashes on each teen's forehead
or hand (imposition of ashes). At first I was disappointed to not be going to
the Ash Weds. Church Service, but then I pushed the disappointment away.
Whatever the youth pastor needed me to do - that was where I needed to be. So,
as I waited for teens to come to me to impose the ashes, I prayed for them and
for our youth group, past, present, and future. I prayed that God would touch
them. As I prayed, I realized again how much I love all those kids, that
spreading on ashes means so much more. The act of my service to them means
helping them find Jesus or to get closer to Him. My love for them is an act of
loving Jesus.

I'm working on my own selfishness. Giving up things I
want to do, even worthwhile things like church things or vacation time, for
kingdom work is hard, but God seems to be working on me in that area. To put
aside my wants, for Him, and His work. And He blesses me when I do.

Disclaimer

The writing on this blog is the sole property of Dawn M. Hamsher. No part shall be used without the author's permission. All persons and events depicted in the writing are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons or events is coincidental.